Apparatus for conditioning the surfaces of metal bodies



July 21,1942. J. H. BUCKNAM 2,290,271

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING THE SURFACES OF METALBQDIEVS Filed July 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR JAMES H. BUCKNAM ATTORNEY J. H. BUCKNAM July 21,1942. 2,290,271 v I APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING THE SURFACES OF METAL BODIES Filed July 27, 1940 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOIQ JAMES H. 'BUCKNAM MW Min ATTORNEY Jufiy 21, 1942. 5 J. H. BUCKNAM 5 2,299,271

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING THE SURFACES 0F METAL BODIES Filed July 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR 1AM ES H. BUCKNAM ATTORNEY Jufiy 21, 1942. J. H. BUCKNAM 2 APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING THE SURFACES OF METAL BODIES Filed July 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JAMES BUCKNAM ANY y 1942. J. H. BUCKNAM 2,290,271

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING THE SURFACES OE METAL BODIES Filed July 27, 1940 s sheets-sheets BY [58 Y ATI'ORNEY JAMES H.- BUCKNAM- Patente d July 21, 1942 r APPARATUS ron CONDITIONING 'rnr. SURFACES or METAL BODIES James H. Buclmam, Craniord, N. 1., assignor to The tion of Ohio Linde Air Products Company, a corpora- Application July 27, 1940, Serial No. 347,930-

20 Claims. (01. 266-23) This invention relates to the art of conditioning'the surfaces of metal bodies and more particularly to improved apparatus for thermochemically .desurfacing semi-finished steel shapes such as blooms, billets, and bars.

During the production of semi-finished steel shapes in a steel mill, defects such as scabs, cracks, seams, and the like, occur in the surface metal of such shapes and to eliminate such defects the steelbodies are surface-conditioned or thermo-chemically desurfaced, i. e., a relatively shallowlayer of surface metal is removed from the longitudinal surfaces of the shapes by the application to such surfaces of high-temperature heat and surface metal removing streams of oxygen. Apparatus has heretofore been proposed for desurfacing four sides of steel billets while they are moved along a conveyor line. Such apparatus included a set of blowpipe heads mounted on the supporting mechanism and movable toward and from the longitudinal surfaces of the billet. To install such apparatus, however, it is necessary to cut into and remove a section of the steel mill conveyor in order to provide a place for the blowpipe head supporting mechanism. The desurfacing apparatus previously employed has been relatively large and heavy and more particularly suited for desurfacing work of relatively large cross-section. Such desurfacing machines required the provision of four sets of blowpipe heads, the employment of two supporting carriages or columns, and at least following description and the accompanying drawings,inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an exemplary desurfacing machine havingv parts ,broken away and showing the frame portion of a steel mill conveyor in section;

Fig. 2 is a view of a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in section of the blow-pipe supporting column and carrier mechanism of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic front view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, showing the blowpipe heads separated and the carrier raised;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a nozzle shoe on the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view of an alternative arrangement of desurfacing heads and T carrier plates mounted on the machine shown in Fig. 1 for desu'rfacing billets in the flat position; a

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view showing a round billet in section and an alternative form of blowpipe heads adapted to desurface round 7 stock;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus according to the intwo universally movable supporting mechanisms orcarriers for the heads.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide an improved apparatus for conditioning or thermo-chemically removing surface metal from four longitudinal sides of a billet, or the like; to provide such apparatus that may be quickly installed in a steel mill and which makes it unnecessary to cut through a section of the work-supporting conveyor line; toprovide desurfacing apparatus whereby four surfaces of a billet may be simultaneously desurfaced by two blowpipe heads; to provide desurfacing apparatus having only a single supporting column or carriage and a single blowpipe head carrier.

mechanism; and to provide a desurfacing machine which shall be highly eflicient, relatively simple, more easily installed andbetter adapted for desurfacing billets of the smaller cross-sec-' tions. I

These and other objects and novel features of vention; and,

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8, with portions broken away to show the operating mechanism. v

According to the invention,'there is provided a desurfacing machine having a pair of opposed blowpipe heads each of which are formed to cover one-half of the perimeter of the billet which may be rectangular, polygonal, or'round. Thus, only two heads are required to desurface all the longitudinal surfaces simultaneously. Altematively, a separate or independent blowpipe head may be provided to cover each side of the billet, each such head being adjustable, or two or more such separate heads may be rigidly secured to- "getherto form a set covering half the sides of this invention will become apparent from the the billet, each such set being adjustable. The heads are mounted on arms one or more of which are adjustably or pivotally carried by a carrier or by a supporting frame'so that the heads are movable toward and away from each other and to and from the respective surfaces of the billet. The carrier or the supporting frame is also preferably supported by a carriage movable along transverse ways to permit the blowpipe heads and the supporting mechanism to be moved completely out of alignment with the pass line of the billet along "the steel mill conveyor.

veyor C. The billet B is preferably supported in'the diamond position by the conveyor rolls in having a V-shaped groove therein. These conveyor rolls have axles II which are 'journaled-in bearings l2 mounted on the longitudinal Iside frame members I! ofthe conveyor line. The -rolls ID are preferably power-driven in. the customary manner. 7 i 1 Each'head H comprises a nozzle shoe having a bottom wall H (see Fig. 5), which is shaped to engage one-half of the perimeter of the billet B, i. e.,for a square billet, the bottom wall H is V-shaped including an angle of 90 degrees. The shoe also has a front wall l5 that is forwardly inclined, and also top, back, and side walls I 6, l1, and 18 in order to form a complete enclosure. Projecting from 'the interior of the shoe and through the front wall ii at points adjacent the corner between the front wall I5. and the bottom wall I4, is a row of desurfacing nozzles N. The nozzles N are arranged at a predetermined suitable angle to the outside work-contacting surface portion of the bottom wall l| andare operatively connected at their interior ends to gas-supplying means or nozzle blocks l9 which extend in a fluid-tight manner through the rear wall H. The blocks 19 are provided with passages therein for s pplying cutting oxygen and a heating ga mixture to each blowpipe nozzle in a manner similar to that disclosed in my copending application.

. Serial No. 174,335. To the rearwardly exposed portions of the nozzle blocks l8 are connected an oxygen-supply conduit 20 and a gas mixer 2|.

Oxygen and fuel gas is supplied to the mixer 2l by tubes 22 connecting the mixers with a heating flame oxygen manifold 23 and a fuel gas manifold 2|. The cutting oxygen is supplied from a cutting oxygen manifold 25 through other tubes or conduits 20 to the nozzle blocks l9. Flexible tubes connected with suitable sources of supply are arranged to conductthe respective fluids to the manifolds. Thus conduit 26 conducts oxygen to the manifold 25. Conduit 2'! conducts'fuel gas to the manifold 2| and conduit 28 conducts heating oxygen to the conduit 23. Cooling water is furnished through a flexible conduit 29 connected to a pipe 30 that conduct the water through one end wall of the head H. The other end is provided with a connection for discharging the used'cooling water that has circulated through the head H and aroundthe nozzles and nozzle blocks IS.

The two heads H are similar to each other but opposite-handed and therefore only one has been described in detail. The heads H are secured in opposed relation to each other to the lower ends of a pair of depending arms 32 and 32' and arranged so that when the heads H are close together, they will form a-diamond-shaped opening of substantially the same size as the cross: section of the billet B. The arms 32 and 32' are pivotally mounted on pivot posts 33 and 33' which are rigidly secured to and project forwardly from a vertical carrier plate 3| disposed immediately behind the arms 32 and 32'. The upper ends of the arms which extend above the pivots 33 and 33' are provided rearwardly with skids 35 which slidably engage raised surfaces lisalong the upper portion of the carrier plate 3|. Similar skids 31 and surfaces 38 may be provided adjacent the carrier 3|.

lower edge of the carrier plate 3|. The carrier plate3| also has near its lower edge, a forwardly extending boss 39 between the arms 32 and 32'.

Correspondingears M are secured to and extend forwardly from the inner edges of the arms 32 and'32' andcarry adjustable stop screws. |l whichscontact-with the boss 39 to adJust the spacin between the two heads H andlimit the movement of the heads.

The arms 32 and 32' are moved about the pivots 33 and 33 by suitable power means such as apower cylinder|2 having a piston rod |3 which is pivotally secured toa boss on the right-hand edge of the upper portion of the arm 32'. The cylinder |2 is pivotally secured to a corresponding boss 44 on the left-hand edge of the upper portion of the arm 32. When compressed air is admitted to the rod end of the cylinder |2 through the connection |5, the rod |3 will be retracted and the upper ends of the arms will be drawn together, thus swinging the heads H apart into the position illustrated in Fig. 4. Admission of air to the head end of the cylinder |2 through a connection 46 causes the rod 43 to be extended and the heads H to be moved toward each other into the position shown in Fig. 1.

The carrier plate 3| is supported upon a frame F which depends from a carriage K to permit the plate 3| to move vertically and still remain vertical in any successive position. The plate 3| is mounted on linkage mechanism comprising a lower link plate 41 and an upper link plate |8. The forward comers of the link plates 41 and |8 are hingedly secured to bearings 49 which are mounted on the rear side of the carrier 3| adjacent each of its four comers. The frame F comprises two side members 50 and 50 which are joined by horizontal cross channels 5| and 52. The links 41 and 48 have their rear portions hinged to bearing 53 mounted on the forward face of the channels 52 and 5|.

The carriage K comprises a rectangular frame formed by front and rear channels 5| connected by several cross-channels 55. Mounted outside of the channels 5| adjacent the corners of the frame are flanged wheels 56 and 51 adapted to roll along ways or rails 58 which are mounted on transverse I-beams 59. The rail 58 and beams 59 extend transversely over the conveyor C and may be supported in any suitable manner such as by a supporting frame 60, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 2.

The carrier 3| is raised and lowered by a power cylinder 6| which has trunnions 62 pivoted in bearings 63 mounted on the centraltransverse members 55 of the carriage frame. The cylinder'6 l has a downwardly projecting piston rod 6| having at its lower end a clevis 65 which is pivoted to an ear 68 at the upper edge of the Thus, when air is admitted to the rod end of the cylinder 6| through a connection 61, the piston rod-6| will be retracted and the carrier plate with the heads H thereon will be raised. During operation, the air pressure in the rod end of cylinder BI is preferably maintained at the proper value to counterbalance the suspended weight of the heads H and the carrier face of the channel the shelf portion 88 has a boss 14 that engages to increase the weight of the carrier plate when the tendency is to move the plate above the desired level. Such device comprises a bell crank lever having a shelf portion 88 which carries a set of weights l0 and a depending arm portion 1 I. the bell crank being pivoted on the pivot shaft 12 which is joumaled in the two upper bearings 53. The arm II is provided with an adjustable stop screw 18 which is positioned to engage with the The forward comer of the forward portion of the upper link plate 48 when the carrier is floating at the desired level. Thus when the air pressure in the cylinder 6| is just suflicient' to overcome the weight of the carrier plate and heads H, but not great enough to overcome the added weight of the weight 10, the carrier will be lifted upwardly until the link 48 contacts theboss I4 and then the heads H will remain suspended at the desired level. This level can be adjusted by means of the screw 13. When it is desired to raise the carrier and heads H to the upper limit of movement, the air pressure in the cylinder BI is increased to overcome the combined weight of the weight 10 carrier plate mechanism.

The carriage K is preferably positioned alon the rails, 58 by power means such as an electric motor, if desired. The power means here shown, however, comprises a power cylinder mounted and the on the beams 55 between the rails 58 and having a piston rod I8 secured to one end of-the carriage K.

In connection with the conveyor C, there is shown in Fig. 2, a billet guiding means 11 positioned to receive and guide the billet B after it has been deseamed and a slag chute l8 posi-' tioned to receive the slag produced during the desurfacing operation and to guide the slag 'into a slag pit below the floor.- Flexible tubing is arranged to connect the power cylinder connections 45, 46, 61, and 58 and the connection of cylinder 15 to a central control station (not shown), from which the operator may observe the machine. The flexible conduits", 21, 28, and 29 also connect to such central control station. At the control station which is not shown in the interests of the cleamess of the drawing, there are valves controlling the supply of the fluid and means for operating the valves in a preferred sequence of operation in order'to cause the desurfacing machine to go through ltscycle of operation.

In describing the operation of the desurfacin machine it will be assumed that the machine is positioned at one side of the conveyer line and that the carrier 34 and the heads H are in the raised and separatedpositions. When the billet B is in position on the conveyor C the operator admits air to the cylinder 15 to push the carriage K into a position approximately centrally over the billet B, as shown in Fig. 4. The pressure of air in the rod end of the cylinder 6! is then reduced to the proper regulated value to allowthe carrier plate to be lowered and the heads H to float at the level which is in alignment with the billet B. Air pressure is next applied to the head end of cylinder 42 through connection 46 which.

causes the heads Hto move together and contact with all four faces of the billet B. If the carriage K has not been accurately positioned, the forcing of the heads H together will cause the carriage K to be shifted into accurate alignment. Such alignment is maintained in spite of variations from lateral straightness of the billet B by perwill be suflicient to pull the heads H back up to the normal level. If the heads H are displaced above the normal level, the weights 10 will act to return the heads H to the normal level.

As soon as the heads H contact the surface of the billet B preferably closely adjacent to the forward end of the billet, the operator will move controls to turn on the heating oxygen and fuel gas which, upon issuing from the nozzles N, will be ignited by the hot surface of the billet B. If

the billet B should not be hot enough to ignite the gases, as, for example, when desurfacing cold billets, the flames may be ignited by providing a pilot flame or an electric spark igniter. As soon as a zone of surface metal completely surrounding the billet B has been raised to the ignition temperature, the foxidizing gas is turned on and simultaneously the conveyor table is energized to move the billet B through the heads H .at a predetermined desurfacing speed. The oxidizing gas will burn a portion of the surface metal of the billet B as it passes through the heads H, form- 'ing a-fiuid slag consisting of oxidized and molten metal which flows off the sides of the billet and into the chute I8. When the trailing end of the billet B passes through-the heads H, the gases are immediately shut off and the air cylinder 42 is supplied with air at its rod end through connection 45 in order to separate heads H. Another billet B may then be moved along the conveyor line and positioned for desurfacing in a manner similar to that described.

An alternative arrangement of the heads H on a carrier plate 34 is shown in Fig, 6. The supporting mechanism for the carrier plate 34' may be substantially the same as the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. In this alternative form of the invention, the heads Harev arranged so that they .will .desurface the four sides of a square billet B when'the billet is supported upon one of its sides on a conveyor having cylindrical rolls. Only one pivoted arm is employed, supporting at its lower end the right-hand head H. The arm near the upper left-hand comer. An upwardly extending end of the arm 88 is pivotally' connected at "82 to the left-hand end of the power cylinder 42'. The right-hand end of the piston rod 48 extending from the cylinder 42 is preferably pivotally mounted on the carrier plate 34'- at 83. The carrier plate 34' is also preferably provided with an arcuate guide surface 38' along which the arm 88 slides. The left-hand head H is secured at the lower end ofa fixed arm 84 which is fixedly secured to the lower left-hand portion ofv the carrier plate 34. The fixed arm 84 may carry a suitable adjustable stop screw 85 for contacting a boss 88 on the movable arm 80 to adjust the separation between the heads H.

moved rightwardly until the vertical contact surface of the left-hand head H contacts the side of the billet B or is in position for such contact.

The carrier plate 34" is then raised by permitting airto flow into the rod end of cylinder "and i the right-hand head H is lowered by permitting air to flow into the rod end of the cylinder 42'.

The heads will thus come together to fully surround the billet and the desurfacing operation will thereafter proceed as previously described.

In the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the carriage K is mounted to run along rails I58 arranged transversely under the conveyor which is not shown in L Figs. 8 and 9, and upon which the billet B is sup- B with all of the shoes I05. If the billet B should be held substantially immovable laterally.- the carriage K willshift along the rails Ill and the arms I32 and1I'32'Lwill both swing sllshtly on the pivots l33and III to allow for vertical adiustments. The preheatingnamesare then ap-' plied and when an ignition temperature is' reached the oxidiz gasis turned onl Simultaneously or imme iatelythereafter the billet B ported on one of its sides. In this embodiment,

the frame F extends upwardly from the carriage K and is provided with side wall members I50 and I50, which are joined by a back plate II and by a 90 degree arc-shaped front and top-cover plate I00. This front and top cover.

plate I00 has an elongated slotted opening IOI through which the arms I32 and I32 project. at substantially a degree angle;

ends of the arms are journaled on pivot shafts I33 and I33 which extend horizontally between the side walls I and I50. Also journaled on the pivot shafts. I33 and I33 are two intermeshing gear segments I02 and I02 rigidly secured to the ends of the arms I32 and I32, respectively.

Thus, when one arm is swung about its pivot shaft, the intermeshing gear segments will cause the other arm to'move correspondingly in the opposite direction. To move the arms toward and away from each other, there is provided an aircylinder I42 pivotally secured at its head end to an ear I03 projecting from the plate ISI. The.

arm I 32 is of hollow box-like construction and the cylinder I42 is disposed between the two sides thereof. the connecting wall or web of the arm being cut away to provide clearance for the cylinder I42. The piston rod I43 of the cylinder I42 is pivotally secured to an ear I04 on the connecting web of the lower arm I32.

The heads H may be identical with the heads H shown at Fig. 1; or they may be slightly modi- 'fied as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9 in which each of the heads H are provided with two separate nozzle shoes I05 which are rigidly secured on the .arm with the rows of nozzles at 90 degrees to The loweris started moving longitudinally along the conveyor at a desurfacing speed. When the end of the billet is reached the gases are shut off and air is admitted to the head end of the cylinder I42 throughiconnection I45 to separate the heads H so that another billet. may be moved into position.

Relatively small billets will readily shift themselves laterally to pass through the rectangular opening between the heads H" without strainin the machine excessively. It may also be desir-. able to provide pinch-rolls on the conveyor to pull the billet throu h the'heads. It will' also be evident that the openingbetweeu the heads may be rectangular as well as square and that, with suitable formed heads, the opening may also be circular for desurfacing round stock. For example, the heads H" may be formed as shown in Fig. '7, each comprising a semi-circular row of nozzles n secured within semi-circular shaped nozzle shoes II5 each adapted to cover onehalf of a round billet indicated at B".

The invention is not limited to the exact details disclosed and it will beseen that certain each other. The gas supply arrangements and cooling water supply arrangements may be sub; stantlally the same as illustrated in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1. Also secured to the heads H at the rear of the nozzle shoes, are a pair of guide plates I00 which extend latrally beyond the surface of the billet B. These are arranged for pulling or moving the billet B and the heads H including'the carriage K into accurate alignment when the heads H are closed. This modified desurfaclng machine is particularly adapted to desurface the relatively smaller cross sections of the billets and the bars, since the smaller barsare more readily movable into alignment. Suitable means for moving the carriage K along the track I58 may also be provided in the form of an air cylinder I15 secured between the rails I58 and having a piston rod I16- secured to the carriage K.

In operation, the billet B is moved to a suitable position for starting the desurfacing operation. The carriage K is moved to an approximate alignment with respect to the billet B and air pressure is suppliedto the rod end of thecylinder I42. This will draw the arms I 32 and I32 t'oward'each other so that the guide plates I06 and/0r nozzle shoes I05 will contact with the billet B and cause exact alignment of the billet features of the invention may be used independently of others and changes may be made. in the various elements of the apparatus without departing from the essentials of the-invention. For example, other motive fluids than compressed air may be employed to operate the power cylinders or other motive means can be substituted. The operation of the machine may be eflected by electrically o erated valves to control the various fluids and such valves may be electrically interconnected with relays and timing devices so that the machine will go through its operating cycle either automatically or semi automatically. when,

a separate independent blowpipehead and nozzle shoe is employed for each side of the bi let, each such head may be mounted on an arm that is pivoted to a carrier or to a frame so that each head is movable toward and from therespective means for swinging at least one of said heads about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal surfaces of said body. for moving said swinging head toward and away from the other of said heads; and means for effecting relative movement between said frame and said body in a direction longitudinally thereof.

2. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of an elongated metal body according .to claim 1 in which both of said heads are pivotally mounted for movement about axes parallel stantially half the longitudinal surface of such,

to the longitudinal surfaces of said body.

3. Apparatusfor conditioning the longitudinal surface of an elongated metal body which comprises means for supporting such body in a position for treatment; a plurality of surface conditioning heads each adapted to apply gas against a transverse zone extending across at least a substantial portion of the longitudinal surface of such body; a supporting frame; means for effecting relative movement between said frame and said body longitudinally thereof; arms mounted on said frame for carrying said heads in operative relation to a respective surface portion of the body; at least one of said arms being pivctally mounted on said frame for arcua-te move- 'ment about an axis substantially parallel to the principal longitudinal axis of said body and toward and away from the respective surface portion of said body; and means associated with said arms for moving said heads toward and away from said respective surface portions.

4. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal body; a supporting frame; means for effecting relative movement between said frame and said body longitudinally thereof; a carrier mounted on said frame for vertical movement; a pair of arms for carrying said heads in opposed relation to each other, both of said arms being pivotally mounted on said carrier formoving said heads toward and away from each other; means for moving said carrier for raising and lowering said heads from and to the operating position; and

means for swinging said arms to move said heads heads each adapted to apply gas against a transsurfaces of an elongated metal body according to claim 3 including adjustable means for regulating the distance between said heads when in operating position.

5. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surface of an elongated metal body which comprises means for supporting such body in a position for treatment; a pair' of surface conditioning heads each adapted to apply gas against a transverse zone extending across substantially half the longitudinal surface of such body; a supporting frame; means for effecting relative movement between said frame, and said body longitudinally thereof; a carrier mounted on said frame for movement in a plane transverse to said body; a pair of arms for carrying said heads in opposed relation to each other said arms being pivotally mounted on said carrier; and means associated with said arms for. swinging said arms about said pivots to move said heads toward and away from each other.

6. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of an elongated metal body according to claim 5 in which said arms are interconnected. for simultaneous movement toward and away from said body.

7. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surface of an elongated metal body which comprises means for supporting such body in a horizontal position for treatment; at least two surface conditioning heads, said heads together being constructed and arranged to apply gas against a transverse zone extending about the longitudinal surface of such body; a supporting frame; means for effecting relative movement between said frame and said body longitudinally thereof; a carrier mounted onsaid frame for vertical 'movement;-arms for carrying said heads in opsurface of an elongated metal body which comprisesv means for supporting such body in a. horizontal position for treatment; a pair of surface conditioning heads each adapted to apply gas against a transverse zone extending across subverse zone extending across substantially half the longitudinal surface of such body; a carriage mounted on ways for movement transversely of said body; a frame on said carriage; a carrier mounted on said frame for vertical movement;

means securing one of said heads on said carrier;

an arm carrying the other ofsaid heads pivotally mounted on said carrier; means for -vertically moving said carrier to position the head thereon with respect to saidbody; and means connected to said arm and said carrier for moving said arm to move the-head thereon through an arc toward and away from said body.

10. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudi-r nal surface of an elongated inetal body which comprises means for supporting such body in a position for treatment; a pair of surface con-. ditioning heads each adapted to apply gas against a transverse zone. extending across substantially half the longitudinal surface of such body; a carriage mounted on ways for movement transverse- 1y of said body; a framev on said carriage; a carment; a pair of arms pivotally supported on said carrier for carrying said heads in opposed relation to each other, power means connected between said arms for simultaneously swinging said arms to move said heads toward and away from each other; and power means operatively connected to said carrier for raising said carrier and said heads to a non-operating position away 11. Apparatus'for conditioning the longitudinal surface of an elongated metal body which comprises means for supporting, such body in a position for treatment; at least two surface conditioning heads, said heads together being constructed and arranged to apply gas against a transverse zone extending about the longitudinal surfaceof such body; a supporting frame; means for effecting relative movementfbetween said frame and said body longitudinally thereof; a pair of upwardly extending arms having their lower portions pivotally secured to said frame for swinging movement in a plane substantially transverse to said body, said heads being secured to the upper portions of said arms in operative relation; and means connected to at least one of said arms for moving said arm to move heads thereon toward and away from heads on said other arm.

12. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of an elongated metal body according to claim 11 in which said arms are interconnected to claim '11 in which said frame is mounted on a transversely movable carriage. I

14. Apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of an elongated metal body according to claim 11 in which said body'is rectangular in cross-section and said arms extend diagonally upwardly and laterally to hold the heads in position for conditioning the respective sides of the body when the body is supported on one. of its sides which is substantially horizontal.

15.'In apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surface of a metal body, the combination of a supporting frame; blowpipe heads disposed in opposed relation to each other and adapted to condition the surface of said body when positioned adjacent thereto; mechanism a of a weighted lever pivotally mounted on said frame and having a weighted portion positioned 1 for engagement by upward movementof said blowpipe means when said blowpipe means tends to move above the operating level, the weight of said lever being sufficient when acting additively to the weight of said carrier to overcome said upward force whereby said blowpipe means tends to return to a predetermined operating supporting said heads on said frame and constructed and arranged for moving said heads toward and away from said. body; andi-at least one guide plate secured to each of said heads and extending laterally therefrom,.said guide plates be- 7 ing positioned so as to contact said body before said heads are infull engagement with said body a and without interference with each other for pulling said body and said heads into accurate level when displaced therefrom in either vertical direction; and an adjustable stop for vertically adjusting the normal lower level of said weighted lever to adjust vertically the operating level to which said blowpipe means tends to return when displaced therefrom in either vertical direction.

19.,In apparatus for conditioning two adjacent longitudinal surfaces of a metal body, a blowpipe head comprising a unitary nozzle shoe having two angularly arranged bottom walls for simultaneously contacting said two adjaalignment when said heads are moved toward each other into fullengagementwith said body.

16. In apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surface of a metal body, the combination of a supporting frame; "a pair of blowpipe heads each adapted to condition surface portions of said body when positioned adjacent thereto; a common carrier for said blowpipe heads, said carrier being movably mounted on said frame to shift said heads to and from an operating position adjacent said body; and

means movably mounting said blowpipe heads on said common carrier in opposed relation to each other and for arcuate movement toward and away from each other. a

17. In apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surface of a metal body, the combination of a supporting frame; blowpipe units each adapted to condition surface portions of said body when positioned adjacent thereto; and mechanism mounting said units onsaid frame for universal movement substantially in planes transverse to said surfaces of said body, said mechanism including members connected 'between said frame and said units providing free substantially vertical movement of said units,

olent longitudinal surfaces of said body; two rows of nozzles having surface conditioning gas outlet 7 orifices disposed in two intersecting planes, the line of intersection of said planes.

being inclined to the longitudinal corner formed by said, surfaces of the body, and said planes being inclined to and intersecting the planes of the bottom walls in lines which are transverse to and parallel to said adjacent surfaces;

and walls forming a fully enclosed cooling against a transverse zone extending across contiguous sides of saidbody when said units are and means providing swinging movement of said units in said planes and in a lateral direction engaged in operative positions with the ICSPGQ-r -tive two sides of said body; a supporting frame; mechanism supporting said heads on said frame and constructed and arranged for moving said units toward and away from each other and toward and away from said operative positions; and at least one guiding arm secured to and extending laterally from each of said units, said with respect to said surfaces and toward and away from said surface portions.

18. In apparatus for conditioning the longitudinal surface of a metal body which includes a supporting frame, blowpipe means movably supported on said frame and adapted to condition the surface of said body when positioned at an operating level adjacent thereto, and means on said frame for raising said blowpipe means withan upward force just suflicient to overcome the weight thereof, the combination guiding arms being positioned with respect to the body engaging portions of said units to contact said body before said units reach said operative positions when said;.body and said frame are laterally displaced from a predetermined operating distance from each other and said units are moved toward each other, whereby said body and said units are pulled into accurate alignment.

JAMES H. BUCKNAM. 

